Tuesday, September 29, 2009

RAIL RIDE EVENT PROGRAM TO LAUNCH TOMORROW

Rail Ride Event to officially begin with Game 2 of the WNBA Finals Thursday night

WHAT:

METRO light rail, US Airways Center, Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury will officially launch the Rail Ride Event program during an announcement tomorrow (Wednesday, September 30) at 6:30 a.m. The announcement will take place at the Park and Ride location on 19th Avenue and Montebello Avenue, across from the light rail station platform.

The unique program will be activated for the first time when the Phoenix Mercury take on the Indiana Fever on Thursday, October 1 in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals at US Airways Center. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

Through Rail Ride Event, METRO will recognize any US Airways Center event ticket as valid light rail fare on the day of the event, for four hours prior to the start of the event, through the end of the transit day. The program will begin tomorrow and run through September 30, 2010.

WHO:

METRO Board Chair and Phoenix Vice Mayor Tom Simplot
Rick Simonetta, METRO CEO

Ralph Marchetta, US Airways Center General Manager

Jay Parry, Phoenix Mercury President and Chief Operating Officer

Suns Dancers

Members of the Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad

Scorch, Phoenix Mercury mascot

WHEN:

Wednesday, September 30
6:30 a.m.

WHERE:

19th Avenue and Montebello Avenue Park and Ride location (Across from the light rail station)

NOTE:
Media parking will be available at the Park and Ride location.

Source: Metro Light Rail

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Encanto Village Visioning Workshop

Encanto Village Visioning workshops begin on October 5th.

Activity 1 asks Big Question #1:

What do you value most about Phoenix and why?

Please tell us!

Click
here for further details.

Source: City of Phoenix

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

METRO light rail, US Airways Center and the Phoenix Suns have developed a unique partnership to build transit into downtown Phoenix events.

Transit-venue partnership builds light rail into downtown events

METRO light rail, US Airways Center and the Phoenix Suns have developed a unique partnership to build transit into downtown Phoenix events. The “Rail Ride Event” program allows consumers who purchase a ticket to an event at US Airways Center to ride METRO light rail at no additional cost on the day of the event.

Under this one-year pilot program, METRO will recognize US Airways Center event tickets as valid light rail fare starting four hours before the event through the end of the transit day. The program begins October 1, 2009 and runs through September 30, 2010. It is expected to generate up to $340,000 in revenue for METRO.

US Airways Center hosts nearly 200 events each year, including the Phoenix Suns and Mercury basketball games, concerts and family shows. All ticketed US Airways Center events are included in the Rail Ride Event program.

"This program will encourage use of the METRO system as a great way to get to and from events at US Airways Center," said METRO Board Chairman and city of Phoenix Vice Mayor Tom Simplot. "The new riders will soon discover how convenient, efficient and safe the system is."

“Suns fans who used light rail to travel to games last year told us that being able to avoid traffic and parking issues, as well as the ease and convenience of the trip, resulted in an experience that enhanced their enjoyment of attending a game,” said Phoenix Suns President and CEO Rick Welts. “We appreciate the willingness and creativity the leadership at METRO light rail demonstrated in developing this program for all US Airways Center events.”

METRO CEO Rick Simonetta called it a “perfect fit.”

“Special event and recreation-oriented trips are already a significant portion of our ridership, nearly 40 percent,” said Simonetta. “Teaming up with the Suns and a great venue like US Airways Center just takes it to the next level.”

About METRO

METRO is a non-profit, public corporation responsible for the operation of the 20-mile light rail system in metro Phoenix, and for design, construction and future operation of 37 miles of possible extensions. Since opening in December 2008, METRO has posted ridership figures 30 percent above projections.
www.metrolightrail.org

About US Airways Center

US Airways Center is owned by the city of Phoenix and managed by a subsidiary of Suns Legacy Partners, owners of the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA). The 19,000-seat, award-winning venue hosts nearly 200 events a year including concerts, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice shows, other family shows, sporting events, and conventions. More than two million guests attend events at the Center annually.
www.usairwayscenter.com

Source: Metro Light Rail

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Imagine Phoenix in 2050

The city of Phoenix is about to begin a very important project and we need your help. Every ten years Arizona State Law requires cities to update their general plans. The General Plan provides comprehensive direction for the growth, conservation and redevelopment of all physical aspects of the city through goals, policies and recommendations. This document is intended to be both long range and visionary and to provide guidance for actions over a long period of time. This project will be broken into two phases. Phase I - visioning, and Phase II - policy plan development. Phase I will kick off on October 5, 2009 and continue through June, 2010. Phase II will begin in September, 2010 and continue through September, 2011. The plan will be presented to the public for approval at an election in September, 2012.

Visit the Phoenix Central Neighborhood Association calendar page at www.PhoenixCenral.org/Calendar.html for specific workshop dates. The boundaries of the Phoenix Central Neighborhood Association (Indian School to Thomas Roads and 7th Avenue and 3rd Street) is assigned to the Encanto Village. A schedule for all villages can be viewed by visiting www.PhoenixCentral.org/village.pdf.

A different activity will be held each month. At the end of each workshop, more details will be provided regarding the activity for the next workshop. You are encouraged to share this list of meeting dates with your friends and neighbors and ask them to attend. These workshops are open to the public.

At the first workshops in October, you will be asked the question "What do you value most about Phoenix, and why?" To help answer this question, ask yourself how you came to be in Phoenix. Were you born here? Did you move here? What attracted you to Phoenix? What keeps you here? What stands out to you as a special moment, event or feeling during the time you have lived in Phoenix? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you are not able to attend a workshop, please emai your response to planphx@phoenix.gov.

THANK YOU!!!

Source: City of Phoenix

WHAT: The METRO light rail, US Airways Center and Phoenix Suns have teamed up

METRO light rail, US Airways Center and Phoenix Suns team up on announcement

METRO light rail, US Airways Center and Phoenix Suns team up on announcement

WHAT:

The METRO light rail, US Airways Center and Phoenix Suns have teamed up to make a major announcement regarding the debut of a unique program on Thursday, September, 17(tomorrow) at 10:15 a.m. The announcement will take place in the parking lot on the northeast corner of 1st Street and Jefferson Street, across from US Airways Center.

WHO:

METRO Board Chair and Phoenix Vice Mayor Tom Simplot

Rick Simonetta, METRO CEO

Ralph Marchetta, US Airways Center General Manager

Rick Welts, Phoenix Suns President and CEO

Councilman Michael Johnson, City of Phoenix District 8

Tempe Vice Mayor Shana Ellis

WHEN:

Thursday, September 17

10:15 a.m.

WHERE:

Parking Lot on the northeast corner of 1st Street and Jefferson Street

(Across from US Airways Center)

NOTE:

Media parking will be available off Washington Street, between 1st and 2nd Street.

Source: Metro Light Rail

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Survey reveals METRO rider characteristics‏

Thirty-five percent of METRO riders surveyed are new to transit. Forty percent use light rail to travel between home and a destination other than work, such as attending special events, enjoying a night out with friends or running errands.

These and other key insights were revealed from a METRO intercept survey conducted to better understand how and why riders use light rail. The survey was carried out in April 2009 using verbal interviews with more than 3,000 weekday and Saturday passengers ranging from regular commuters, students, seniors and recreational users. The data will be used to help METRO in its future planning efforts.

Other key survey findings:

Nearly 30 percent of respondents use METRO to commute between home and work exclusively.


Approximately 20 percent of respondents use METRO for trips where neither end of the trip is home (i.e. going to/from lunch during the workday, meeting friends after work or going to school from the workplace).

Forty-five percent of respondents walk, bike or skate to a METRO station to connect with light rail; the other half either drive to a METRO station, usually using a park-and-ride facility (29 percent) or connect from a bus (26 percent).

Sixty-eight percent of respondents have at least one car available for the trip they were making on light rail.

For more METRO intercept survey detail, visit http://www.valleymetro.org/images/uploads/lightrail_publications/Intercept_web_PPT.pdf.


A more comprehensive on-board survey will be conducted on regional bus and light rail in fall 2010.

Source: Metro Light Rail